An Evaluation of the Community Librarians' Training Courses with Special Emphasis on the Entire Training Function in the Library Extension Division of the New York State Library.

Allen, Lawrence A.

This study was designed to: (1) evaluate the Community Librarians' Training Courses which had been conducted for five years in New York State to train persons without professional library training who were serving as librarians and (2) appraise the entire training program of the Library Extension Division in order to make recommendations and provide guidelines for future growth and development. Methodology for the study involved intensive evaluation of two courses and questionnaires administered to all System Directors, Consultants, and students. A major conclusion of the evaluation was that the Library Extension Division has entered the training field with the initiation of the series for the community librarians but that it must extend this service to others in the field, including professional librarians. Specific recommendations were made for the improvement of the Community Librarians' Training Course per se, the expansion of the Library Extension Division's training function and program, the training role of the Systems, coordination with agencies other than the Systems in developing training programs, and the development and structure of the training programs in the Library Extension Division and the field. Appendices include the study questionnaires, course evaluation tools, course outlines and materials, and a 107 item bibliography on training. (JB)